Tools

The Colorado Springs Sanctuary Coalition, a faith-based organization advocating for immigrants, announced in a statement that it had accepted a guest at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church on Jan. 2.

The guest, Miguel Ramirez Valiente, fled El Salvador when his life was threatened by gang violence 14 years ago, the statement said. He has three young children and is married to a U.S. citizen. According to the statement, Ramirez has been pursuing legal avenues for relief since 2011, but was unable to file certain paperwork to stay his Jan. 3 deportation order due to the federal government shutdown.

"Miguel's rights to due process are being violated," Lisa Guerra, Ramirez's attorney, says in the statement. "He has a compelling and strong legal case and we are waiting for the government to re-open in order to fully pursue all legal options available to him."